Buccaneers Add 8 UDFAs
The Buccaneers have been busy retaining their Super Bowl-winning starting lineup, but the team will also be welcoming a number of new faces this preseason. That includes eight undrafted rookies; the team announced the signing of the following players today:
- OT Calvin Ashley, Florida A&M
- K Jose Borregales, Miami (FL)
- S Augie Contressa, Stony Brook
- G Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina
- CB Cameron Kinley, Navy
- DL Elijah Ponder, Cincinnati
- WR T.J. Simmons, West Virginia
- S Lawrence White, Iowa State
Borregales was considered a potential draft pick after establishing himself as one of the best kickers in college football, as he earned the Lou Groza Award this past season. The rookie will serve as competition for Ryan Succop, who converted 90.3-percent of his field goals for the Buccaneers last year.
Meanwhile, the organization was apparently motivated to add Hutcherson. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that the offensive lineman received $130K guaranteed, which includes $100K of his base salary. Pro Football Focus named the South Carolina product to their second-team All-SEC squad this past season.
Broncos Sign OL Cameron Fleming
The Broncos have added another potential option to fill in for injured right tackle Ja’Wuan James. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports (via Twitter) that Denver has signed offensive tackle Cameron Fleming. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that it’s a one-year deal worth up to $3.67MM.
[RELATED: Broncos, Bobby Massie Agree To Deal]
Following news that James had torn his Achilles, the Broncos brought in four offensive tackles for auditions: Fleming, Bobby Massie, Dennis Kelly, and Jermaine Eluemunor. The team added Massie yesterday on a one-year, $4MM deal, but the Broncos front office is assuring they have enough depth to make up for James’ absence.
Fleming started 16 games for the Giants last year. However, the G-Men let him walk after his one-year, $3.5MM deal expired. Before that, Fleming spent four seasons in New England and two in Dallas playing under Joe Judge and Jason Garrett. From 2017-2020, Fleming played between 230-400 snaps per season, working as a part-time starter throughout that stretch.
Fleming and Massie will likely go head-to-head for the starting gig, with Calvin Anderson and Ryan Pope also competing for the job. Whoever wins the starting position will be the Broncos’ ninth Week 1 Broncos right tackle starter in nine years.
WFT Signs First-Round LB Jamin Davis, Rest Of Draft Class
All 10 WFT rookies are now under contract. The team announced that they’ve signed each of their draft picks to rookie contracts.
This grouping is obviously highlighted by first-round linebacker Jamin Davis. The Kentucky product used a strong 2020 campaign to jump from a potential Day 3 pick to the No. 19 selection in the 2021 draft. Davis ultimately finished this past season with a team-leading 102 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, and three interceptions. This standout performance earned him First-Team All-SEC honors from Pro Football Focus. Considering the rookie’s versatility and pass-rushing prowess, it won’t be long before he’s secured a consistent role on Washington’s defense.
Texas offensive tackle Sam Cosmi was selected by Washington with the No. 51 pick. The former Texas standout played both right tackle and left tackle in college, so WFT offensive line coach John Matsko will have plenty of opportunities to play the rookie.
The rest of the team’s draft class includes:
- Round 3: No. 74 (from 49ers) Benjamin St-Juste, CB (Minnesota)
- Round 3: No. 82 Dyami Brown, WR (North Carolina)
- Round 4: No. 124 John Bates, TE (Boise State)
- Round 5: No. 163 Darrick Forrest, S (Cincinnati)
- Round 6: No. 225 (from Eagles) Cameron Cheeseman, LS (Michigan)
- Round 7: No. 240 (from 49ers via Eagles) Will Bradley-King, DE (Baylor)
- Round 7: No. 246 Shaka Toney, DE (Penn State)
- Round 7: No. 258 (from Chiefs through Dolphins) Dax Milne, WR (BYU)
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/21
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Parker Hesse
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): C Sam Jones
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Mike Bell, OL Steven Gonzalez
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Michael Pinckney
New York Giants
- Waived: DE Breeland Speaks
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): RB Austin Walter
- Waived: RB Pete Guerriero
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Joshua Moon, DT Walter Palmore, DE Marcus Webb, S LaDarius Wiley
Chiefs Sign Second-Round C Creed Humphrey
After completing a deal with their No. 58 pick earlier today, the Chiefs have now signed No. 63. The team announced that they’ve signed center Creed Humphrey to his rookie pact.
[RELATED: Chiefs Sign Second-Round LB Nick Bolton]
The six-foot-five, 312-pound lineman was a standout during his time at Oklahoma, earning a pair of Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year awards. After playing three years (not including a redshirt season) with the Sooners, Humphrey gave up his final year of eligibility and entered the draft. He was selected with Kansas City’s own second-round selection.
The Chiefs have been focused on revamping their offensive line this offseason, but Humphrey should have a good opportunity to start at center as a rookie. He’ll face competition from free agent addition Austin Blythe and 2020 undrafted free agent Darryl Williams.
The Chiefs have been active today, signing all of their draft picks and acquiring Mike Hughes from the Vikings. The team also announced that they’ve added eight undrafted free agents:
- DB Zayne Anderson
- DB Dicaprio Bootle
- QB Shane Buechele
- DB Marlon Character
- LB Riley Cole
- DE Malik Herring
- DB Devon Key
- DB Jaylon McClain-Sapp
Bills Sign 6 UDFAs
The Bills became the latest team to officially announce their UDFA class as rookie minicamps approach. Buffalo had a small one, only inking six guys. Here they are:
- CB Olaijah Griffin, USC
- CB Nick McCloud, Notre Dame
- TE Quintin Morris, Bowling Green
- S Tariq Thompson, SDSU
- OL Syrus Tuitele, Fresno State
- WR Tre Walker, San Jose State
Griffin is a cool one, since his dad is influential rapper Warren G. Buffalo signed Jacob Hollister this offseason but still don’t have a ton at tight end, so Morris could have a real chance of making the roster. He led Bowling Green in receiving the past two seasons, and had 649 yards and four touchdowns in 2019, his last full campaign.
Thompson was very productive in college as a four-year starter for the Aztecs. From his freshman-senior seasons, he racked up 11 interceptions, five fumble recoveries, and five forced fumbles. Tuitele is the cousin of current Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa.
Giants Sign Second-Round DE Azeez Ojulari
The Giants have locked up their second-round pick. Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari has officially signed his rookie contract, the team announced today. They also announced they’ve signed sixth-round running back Gary Brightwell and sixth-round cornerback Rodarius Williams.
Ojulari was expected by many to be a first-rounder, but medical red flags dropped him to 50th overall. If he can stay healthy, the Giants might end up getting a total steal. His upside is sky-high, as he’s coming off a season where he led the SEC in sacks at the age of 20. The Georgia product won’t turn 21 until next month.
Some analysts thought he was the most talented edge rusher in the draft when he first declared back in January. He’s got good size and explosiveness and finished with 9.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles in only 10 games in 2020. He should get plenty of playing time as a rookie.
Vikings Trade Mike Hughes To Chiefs
It’s been a busy afternoon with lots of draft pick signings, and now we’ve got a trade! Minnesota is sending cornerback Mike Hughes to the Chiefs, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Kansas City is sending their sixth-round pick in 2022 and getting back Hughes and a 2022 seventh-rounder, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. In essence, the Chiefs are getting Hughes for practically nothing to take on the final year of his rookie deal. The 30th overall pick of the 2018 draft, Hughes just recently had his fifth-year option declined by the Vikings. To say Kansas City GM Brett Veach has been aggressive this offseason would be a big understatement.
His latest acquisition is the young cornerback from UCF who has had a really tough time with injuries in his brief career. First, Hughes tore an ACL a little over a month into his rookie season. Then he missed a couple of games with a neck injury in 2019, before a neck issue limited him to only four games this past year.
Through three pro campaigns he’s appeared in only 24 games, making seven starts. In those games he’s recorded 80 tackles, three forced fumbles, 13 passes defended, and two interceptions. The Vikings added Patrick Peterson and Mackensie Alexander this offseason, leaving Hughes with an uncertain role in their secondary.
The Chiefs have yet to re-sign Bashaud Breeland this offseason, so the could use some cornerback depth behind L’Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward. Hughes only turned 24 in February, so he’s still got some theoretical upside.
Colts To Sign K Eddy Pineiro
The Colts are adding some competition for Rodrigo Blankenship. Indianapolis is signing veteran kicker Eddy Pineiro, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Indy signed Blankenship as an UDFA out of Georgia last offseason, and he spent his entire rookie season as the team’s kicker. He was shaky at times, and didn’t have a very strong leg at all. He was just 1/3 on attempts from 50+ yards, and the Colts wouldn’t even think about letting him attempt an extra long one. Blankenship was supposed to be an accuracy kicker, and he made 43 of 45 extra point attempts, but he did have a few critical misses from close range.
In the Colts’ playoff loss to the Bills he missed a crucial 33-yard field goal attempt, so it’s not surprising that GM Chris Ballard is adding competition. Pineiro signed with the Raiders in 2018, but spent his entire rookie season on IR. He was traded to the Bears the next offseason, and was Chicago’s kicker for all 16 games in 2019, when he made 23 of 28 field goal attempts and 27 of 29 extra points. He spent all of 2020 on IR.
Broncos To Waive DaeSean Hamilton
DaeSean Hamilton‘s time in Denver has come to an end. The Broncos are waiving the receiver from Penn State, a source told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).
We had heard about a month ago that the Broncos may trade Hamilton around the draft, but obviously nothing materialized. Garafolo writes that they “had trade talks” recently “but couldn’t finalize a deal.” Garafolo also says that Hamilton is a “strong possibility to be claimed” on waivers. Hamilton was a fourth-round pick back in 2018 and was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract.
Penn State’s all-time leading receiver has had between 23-30 catches and 243-297 yards in all three of his pro seasons. He’s flashed some potential at times, but has gotten buried on the depth chart. The Broncos have Courtland Sutton coming back from an ACL tear, and just drafted Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler in the first and second rounds last year, making Hamilton expendable.
Denver also has Tim Patrick coming back and just used a sixth-round pick on receiver Seth Williams, so the receiving room was getting pretty crowded. Hamilton turned 26 in March, and will undoubtedly get another shot somewhere.